Hey, it's what I do! Welcome to my creative arts blog!

Welcome to my Maker's blog, where I feature my own unique creative projects. I'm seven years out from breast cancer and counting my blessings.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

3 D effect with hot glue

I've been kicking this idea around in my head for awhile and I just decided to do it. How can I get a dimensional, 3 D image on a vase, jar, box or even a canvas? I considered cutting shapes out of foam and gluing them on, or gluing on store bought appliques or even jewelry charms. But all of those require a bit more effort or money and I knew there was a simpler way. So here's what I came up with.....
The standard thrift store cheap glass vase. The sticker on the bottom says fifty cents, so it was a bargain. Now for my design....

Aha! It's my "leaving the house and my hair is a mess" hat. I got the pretty applique for $1 and it makes it look less like my "bad hair day" hat and more like a stylish statement. That's what I tell myself, anyway. Lol! So, I love the look of the fleur de lis and went for it....

I drew a symmetrical design on paper, folded it up til it was positioned correctly and taped it in place on the inside....

...and filled in the shape with hot glue. I stayed inside the lines but was a bit messy filling it in. I knew I could trim the edges with a razor cutter if I wanted to, and the next part of my project would minimize the messy appearance of the glue. Trust me on this, the finished deal is awesome!

Crumple up about 1/2 sheet of tissue paper. You could use other types of paper but the tissue is the best for this technique. Tear it into pieces less than 3" x 3".

Now Mod Podge those babies on the outside of your vase, putting the MP on the vase only, since the tissue paper is fragile and tears very easily. Just lay the tissue gently on the shape and pat it with a fingertip. If your finger gets sticky, switch to another finger and continue patting gently. Once the paper is sticking pretty good take a small, soft brush and more MP and gently ease the paper into all the crevices of your design. Gently, ladies, gently. BUT, if you do end up tearing the tissue here and there, it's OKAY!! This technique is very forgiving of mess ups. Trust me on this.
Smooth the torn edges with your soft brush and cover any tears with small pieces of torn tissue. Once they are Mod Podged they will disappear. Then MP the edges of the paper down over the bottom and up over the lip for a smooth appearance. Let it dry thoroughly.

Now paint your project the background color. I chose Antique White by Plaid which is a bit of a buttermilk white. By the way, can you see the little smiley face guy with a mustache on the vase? Curvy eyebrows, curly mustache? Little goatee on his chin? Come on, tell me you see him! He looks a little French to me. I'm not kidding, there really is a smiling guy there. Lol! It's okay if you can't see him, I KNOW he's there. ; 0 )

Once the paint is dry on the smiling guy fleur de lis vase, take a soft brush and stroke just a bit of your accent color on there. I used black. You may want to use burnt umber or even a color to match your decor, like blue or even pink. Make sure your brush is almost dry, blot the paint out til it is barely there before brushing it on your project. It is better to have too little than too much, BUT, if you do get too much on there it is fixable. Trust me on this. Let the paint dry then fix your dark spots with the lighter color, let it dry and dry brush again with the darker color. Seal it with clear acrylic spray. See how the roughness of the hot glue and the texture of the tissue really give this a rustic, vintage feel? As my dad the engineer always said, "If you can't make it look perfect, then emphasize the imperfection."

This is the first time I tried this technique and I am jazzed at the way it came out! The hot glue tissue paper decoupage idea worked and it came out just as I hoped! Don't you love when that happens? I'm going to try it on different surfaces and see how it looks and I'm already thinking some kind of swirly damask design on another vase and maybe some dots and circles....!

WARNING-your vase or glassware will NOT be dishwasher safe. Also, do not submerge it in soapy water. Just dust it with a cloth. The inside is still safe to hold water since the technique is all on the outside, so your vase is fine to hold real flowers. Submerging the finished project will "lift" all your hard work right off.

I'm so glad you're visiting me here, please leave a comment if you would. I'll be linking up to the fun blog parties in my sidebar, come see all the great projects posted there!

I just used modge podge for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I am hooked. I love what you did to this vase, I love texture on things so this fits the bill, GOOD job! Thanks for linking up to my first party....I look forward to seeing you again.

Love, love, love this project! BUT, I can't see the French dude! It's really driving me crazy too. I keep going back and looking, but I can't see him. Are you sure he's really there? Ha! Okay, I believe you, but I really wish you would point him out. I'm gonna go try again. LOL!xoxo,Kim

OMG Ann, this is one really cool idea. I love the way that it turned out. I read some of your older posts and have discovered that you are quite a talented person. I just have to put you on my list to follow so I can be inspired. Thanks for coming over and commenting. I appreciate it. This is why I join up w/linky parties- I get to meet new friends outside of my own little circle. BTW, I did see the little Frenchy guy right off the bat. He reminded me of a little chef and I could almost hear his little French accent.... LOL~ Sue

Great vase!! I was just recently trying to figure out the same kind of concept and I came up with 3d fabric paint. You could try that too....and worry less about crisping your hands!! :-) I always manage to get my fingers in that hot glue.

That is A SUPER idea! I see what you mean by doing things the non-cricut way LOL. Your project was both inventive and creative. You'd never know that was a plain glass vase.Thanks for stopping by today!Lisa

That's a great idea, and a great project! I love finding treasures in thrift stores. We're on a fleur de lis kick in my house right now. my husband is a die hard Saint's fan and is in the process of remodeling the garage. he's going to put a big fleur de lis on the garage floor! I will be the one to have to draw it out for him. Eventually I'll post pics on my blog.

Wow, this vase turned out incredibly beautiful!! Woo Hoo!! I'm so glad you linked this post and I signed on to Follow....another Oregon blogger, Woo Hoo!! There aren't too many of us that I've stumbled upon. Thanks for linking this great project to Woo Hoo! Wednesday.

Noooo way! Hahaha, this is cracking me up. I did the EXACT same thing to a vace at my house!! I thought I was a cheap-o for doing it, but I love the way it looks. We must think exactly alike. How funny, I love it :-)! I modge-podged some tissue paper on first, then added a pretty bird pic clipped from a Country Living magazine. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the sweet compliment. I am now a happy follower : ) Have a blessed weekend, friend.

Such a cute idea!!! I hope you don't mind, but I linked this post on my blog! I am going to try a slight spin on it, but it was this post that geve me the inspiration to try it. I will post a pic when I am done, but here is where I mentioned your blog, if you want to take a peek!http://whimsandtrims.blogspot.com/2010/05/remember-my-shoppng-spree.htmlThanks! :)

yes, you are right... both are milky white painted vases. however, my vase directly painted on the glass gives a different look. both unique in their own way. i'll try your technique also. thanks for posing.

Awesome technique that could be used for so many applications. I'm linking up to your blog today in my post at Dollar Store Crafts http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/06/make-a-dollar-store-kitchen-backsplash/

Oh wow, I love this. What a great great great idea. Did I already say great idea, Oh man, I hate the look of a plain glass vase, and this would go so much better with my decor. Can not wait to give it a try!!! AMazing. I also love your blue garden globes. I am def your newest follower as Im sure I will find tons of great stuff here. Thanks and if you ever feel like you want to share your wonders with another party, please consider checking mine out, its new, and I would be so happy to have you!!!

WEDDING TABLE VASES/FAVORS/ETC.Imagine any Initial, flower, thing............all the brides and bride's moms who "can't find anymore of that certain thing they had bought all of at _____________"Endless possibilities!Plates, clay pots, endless.GREAT JOB, THANKSKate

this is amazing, love the creative idea, im thinking along the lines of the same idea...the inexpensive thrift or dollar store find basic vase, but hot gluing on a monogram....and maybe turning this into one of those great unique gifts for the person who has everything.

im a follower now, and have bookmarked this project, so i can get right on it after the holiday weekend is over.

Your work is beyond creative! Just beautiful! I have to ask though, since that is one thing not shown, how does the inside of it look with the tissue paper folded over? Did you paint that also and is it even inside? I never can figure out what to do to make the inside top part look as good as the outside because of the fold overs. Hope you are doing well!!!! Thank you for sharing!

This is genius! I never knew how to create a 3D effect like this on anything and this puts a whole new perspective on what I can be doing....oh the husband is going to be lonely for a couple of days!! Love your blog and thanks for the lovely comment!

did you paint it with spray paint or handbrush it all? I so want to do this I have some really neat jars that I want to use for gifts I have the black paint acrylic but not the white I will have to go get that tomorrow just need to know if you don't mind telling me to get spray paint of paint in a by the gallon or however it comes?lol or more acrylic paint I have spent so much money for these diy projects already so hopefully I will just have to buy paint! Thank you so much this is awesome I wanna do gifts but I want one for my home!

Donna, you didn't leave an email to get back to you, so I hope you read this! I hand painted over the tissue with country white acrylic paint then once that dried used black acrylic in a dry brush technique...blotted most of the black paint on a rag then lightly brushed over highlights on the vase. Since this is acrylic paint and mod podge, it should not be put in the dishwasher or a sink of soapy water. Dust it with a cloth only. You can still put water on the inside of the vase since this technique is only on the outside. Hope this helps!

I have to try this...just an ideal..I use wall spackling for 3-D images on objects. I just do freehand or make a stencil and use it..when you pull it off..WaLa...you have a image...SMILESThanks for sharing I loved it.

Great idea thanks for sharing. I think instead of hot glue I will try Scribbles 3D paint, made for drawing/writing. It's just 99 cents at Hobby Lobby and likely similar at Michaels. http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/scribbles-white-shiny-3d-paint-773937/

About Me

I've always been creative and even my treatment and recovery from breast cancer has only slowed me down, not stopped me. At this time in my life I finally have my own craft studio where I can paint, sew, draw, crochet, design, quilt, you name it. I am creatively curious and I won't let my chemo stop me!